1 comments about Calochortus: Mariposas and Their Relatives.

1. What a fabulous book. Detailed information on the Calochortus. Everything you could possibly need to know. The photos are absolutely amazing. Just a wonderful book start to finish. I keep it on my living room coffee table.

4 comments about Tulipmania: Money, Honor, and Knowledge in the Dutch Golden Age.

1. A really interesting read, debunking a lot of myths but still leaving the reader with a lot of insight into society and culture in the Dutch Golden Age. Read my full review at http://booksdofurnisharoom.typepad.com/books_do_furnish_a_room/2007/07/tulips.html



2. Many people talk about bubbles. Few will spend time to look into details. This book alone digs in depth.



3. Is Tulipmania a good book, I was left wondering after having finished it. I guess to ask this question is to answer it. Still, by researching the tulip trade in the Dutch Golden Age, Anne Goldgar hit on archival gold. A massive amount of previously ill researched primary source material is combined with an impressive body of secundary literature. She combines insights from both historians and art historians. And with this wealth of material, Goldgar tells a concise and insightful story. As a nice topping, on every other page or so the book displays plates an illustrations from the period.
   
   But very often, one is left slightly baffled by Goldgar's train of thought. One is more or less ready to follow Goldgar when she argues that well-to-do Dutchmen liked to have collections tulips and shells because both could be linked to the (apparently) highly-esteemed marble. Of course, there is no way of knowing whether this was true, but the connection is interesting. When from there on, she starts a discussion on the « soul-like » qualities of pets and tulips in paintings opposed to paintings of cars and shells, she is clearly off the mark.
   
   Irritatingly, in books like these, Michel Foucault is never far away. When two neigbours in a neighbourhood of merchants have an informal chat about the price of tulips at their doorstep, in Goldgar's words they strenghten hierarchies of knowledge within constrained physical, cultural and commercial boundaries. And when these people go to the baker to buy a loaf of bread and discuss flowers over there, the customer, the baker *and* the bakery all may be identified as (being in the centre of) nodes of information.
   
   As for the historical narrative, despite all the insights of Tulipmania, I thought many themes were left ill explored. For example, what struck me, is that paintings depicting only tulips are hard to find. Did the "bloemisten" then really only engage in tulips as Goldgar suggests? In 1600, tulips were largely a matter of a European elite dominated by botanical specialists like Clusius. In the 1630's, it seems as if a shift occurred to the Dutch burghers. Did the academical world entirely vanish? Moreover, I thought the quantitative material was not presented very convincingly. Goldgar claims statistical correlation in the geographical spread of "bloemisten", where really I could see none. And unfortunately she chose not to include tables to present her statistics. Finally, I was frankly disappointed with the last two chapters in which Goldgar isn't able to make much of the judicial source material, fails to explain the « futures trade » convincingly, and is repetitive on many occasions.
   
   I suppose that these and other issues might be explored in future histories on tulips in the Dutch Golden Age, for which Goldgar's "Tulipmania" will be a mandatory starting point.



4. After reading Tulipmania, I feel that the book could have been better than it was. Goldgar claims that she used firsthand sources that no one else has used to study the topic of Tulipmania before, allowing her to draw conclusions that no one has previously done. Essentially, Goldgar questions the traditional interpretation throughout history of Tulipmania, particularly the effect that the crisis actually had on Dutch society.
   
   Even though these new sources shed new light on the topic, I felt that the book could have been delivered in a much better way. Goldgar quickly becomes bogged down with the minutia of the tulip trade. She did talk about overall trends; however, I think the book would have been much more interesting if she didn't spend as much time writing about individual transactions or individual meetings between buyers and sellers. These are necessary to establish the validity of the argument, but I think that the book would be more enjoyable with a few less of these examples.
   
   The book also could have been improved with some overall statistics about Dutch society at the time. For example, (without giving too much away) claims about the economic conditions in the Netherlands during the early 17th century could have been backed up with more than just assertions from the author. In addition, the book does not spend a lot of time on some key issues, particularly, why the prices suddenly collapsed. This may have been out of the scope of the book, and the author does state that the issue is extremely complex and has no easy answer. But I think it would have added to the book to spend a bit more time discussing a few of the possible reasons.
   
   This is not to say that the book had no positives. Simply by looking at new primary sources, the author has done a great service to anyone interested in Tulipmania, the Netherlands, or early modern Europe. Goldgar uses actual records from the transactions that took place at the time, rather than the pamphlets written by third parties at the time of and shortly after the crash in tulip prices. The author put a lot of research into the book, using those records to come up with an extensive list of buyers and sellers within the tulip trade. By doing this, she develops an accurate image of who was involved in the tulip trade and how far reaching the trade was into society.
   
   Another strong point of the book was the description of Early Modern Dutch society. An entire chapter is dedicated to art in Holland at the time and how that relates to tulips and other collectable items in Dutch society. The book also draws a number of interesting conclusions about how business was conducted in Dutch society. As the title suggests, money, honor, and knowledge were all very important themes in the Netherlands.
   
   The last chapter and the epilogue were the most interesting parts of the book to me. It is here that the author begins to use the enormous amounts of detail to draw some conclusions about Tulipmania. She explains why Tulipmania was thought to be of such great economic performance, why she feels it was not, and why she feels that the effects of the event were distorted. The epilogue ties everything together with a discussion on values and knowledge within a society.
   
   I recommend this book if you are interested in Tulipmania and/or the Netherlands during the early seventeenth century. However, be prepared to slog through minute details to get to the good stuff.

No comments about Bulbs (Garden Guides).

5 comments about Garden Bulbs for the South.

1. My copy of Mr. Ogden's book is already dog-eared from use. Any gardener in the South who is interested in adding perennial bulbs to the garden must read this book. The information on every type of bulb, tuber or corm, including those of wild Southern heritage, is generous, well written and easy to understand. Garden Bulbs for the South is useful not only as a gardening reference but as a field classification manual when trying to identify that lily blooming at the old farmhouse down the road. After reading the chapter on rain lilies, I was finally able to determine what that tiny little lily growing wild in my front yard really is. Highly recommend.



2. Garden Bulbs for the South is simply a great book. The vast majority of books on bulbs deal extensively with Tulips, Grape Hyacinths, Daffodils and other cold climate bulbs and only give cursory information about warm climate bulbs and the information often pertains to container gardening. Every northerner moving South is tempted to try growing cold climate bulbs. Reading this book is both a delight and a time and money saver. It will also assist you in trying a lot of bulbs that you might otherwise overlook. It has been one of the most read books in my gardening library.



3. This is an excellent book for reference. I've come back to it time after time over the years.



4. Author Scott Ogden, a freelance garden writer and photographer, lives in New Braunfels, Texas, near San Antonio. That's considerably farther south than where I garden in Charlotte, NC, but nonetheless, I believe the book provides a helpful resource for "historic, neglected and little-known bulbs whose beauties belong rightly and traditionally to the South" (2). Ogden contends--and I am in full agreement--that for the "average home dirt dauber there are more rewarding activities" than planting, digging, refrigerating and re-planting bulbs. Says Ogden, "The effort and expense invested in temporary bulb displays might as readily be employed on something new, exotic, or extraordinary--even on flowers that like the South" (2). Ogden provides us with a list of more than 200 warm-climate bulbs. Now, that's worth a closer look!
   
   Following discourse on the traits and differences between true bulbs, tubers, corms, rhizomes and tuberous roots, Ogden organizes this resourceful book into nine sections, featuring: Rain Lily Day; Petite Afrique: Winter Blooms; Jonquils and Kin; Spring Treasures; Irises, Gladioli, and Shellflowers; Crinums and Spider Lilies; Summer Glories; and lastly, Cannas, Arums, and Gingers. Next, in the Appendix, Ogden distinguishes between Southern bulb culture, Mediterranean beds and hog wallows. The author knows and respects clay soil, a bane of Piedmont gardening. (See also his book, Gardening Success with Difficult Soils.) Finally, after providing a review of garden bulbs for the South where full botanical names are provided, as well as family designations and cultivars, Ogden closes the book with a resource list where bulbs may be ordered and purchased.
   
   Ogden's remarkable color pictures abound, providing grand illustrations to the printed text. The text is exceptionally and beautifully well-written, easy to read. Despite its appeal, not every word needs to be read in succession, making the book a valuable resource for a gardener's bookshelf when specific research is wanted and needed. Descriptions and advice abound, including how and where to plant, water and sun growing requirements, soil needs and amendments, and periods of bloom. Just as Ogden shares his recommendations for bulbs "for any need and any season," I can also recommend this inviting and handsome book.
   
   Deborah Moore Clark
   August 14, 2006



5. This is by far the absolute best book for those who garden in the steamy south! I have the first edition and snapped up the 2nd as soon as it came out. I definitely recommend this book. Scott Ogden blends history and horticultural requirements into something that is far more than just a good read!

1 comments about The Daylily: A Guide for Gardeners.

1. This book was a self-serving book for the hybridizers, Peat and Petit..Most of the images were THEIR daylilies...Their Color Encyclopedia of Daylilies was much better...

1 comments about Annuals, Perennials, & Bulbs.

1. Lifelong gardener Anne Halpin draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in Annuals, Perennials & Bulbs: Designing, Planting, Maintaining to offer the home gardener and landscaper a detailed guide to creating beds and borders that will showcase these garden plants to their best advantage. Halpin provides 40 step-by-step photo sequences taking the aspiring gardening through essential gardening tasks, as well as in-depth profiles of 125 favorite garden planes, enhanced with 600 color photographs (many of them clearly illustrating essential gardening techniques) and more than 50 watercolor illustrations. Very highly recommended for novice gardeners, and with much of value for experienced horticulturalists and landscapers, Annuals, Perennials & Bulbs will aptly serve as a continuing reference for the complex task of plant placement and selection.

5 comments about Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia.

1. I bought it for my mom, a definate iris lover, she is absolutley thrilled over it. She shows it to everyone that mentions the word Iris, to her. Her sister, my Aunt, looks at the book everytime she goes to visit her, too. She is another iris lover. So are my sister's and I am, too.
   Thank you for helping me please all the iris lovers in my family. Which goes beyond my mother and my Aunt. We are all pleased with this book. We all would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about irises.



2. This book has wonderful pictures and descriptions, perfect for identifying unknown iris in the garden.



3. I've read three iris books back to back looking for specific information:
   
   I want to know about hybridizing bearded irises and this book gives a very good general overview. Better than the other books, but still fairly general in cross-making information.
   
   I also used it to look for answers to some weird occurrences in my Irises this year and found no description of the symptoms in the pests/diseases part. The other books didn't have the problem either so I am frustrated, but perhaps shouldn't blame this book for not providing the answer.
   
   This IS ABSOLUTELY the best book on the market on the subject though, better, fuller, glossier, and more comprehensive than the rest I've seen. I was a little surprised to see it is mostly a listing of irises in cultivation which is an ambitious undertaking.
   
   I would caution against using any book to identify unknown Irises as there are just too many cultivars to be sure you've got the right name. However, I absolutely would (and did) use it to verify the identities of named Irises with a few nametags that got mixed up.
   
   I would've given it 5 stars if there had been a little more information on the aforementioned items. I perhaps owe it 5 stars simply for the amazing job they did on the species Irises which no other book comes close to matching.



4. Like all botanical Encyclopedias, this can't possibly contain all the varieties available, but almost all are represented in some form. This book is responsible for spurring my obsession with Irises so I can't vouch for its significance to the experienced gardener, but I haven't found anything that compares. The text is very brief and concise, but provides a good overview of each Iris family (I didn't know there were so many!).
   
   If you are an Iris enthusiasts or want to become one, this is the book to own!



5. For a new iris gardener, this is a fantastic book to have. The pictures give you the 'true' colors of the flowers and tell you the type they are, the blooming span, the height of them, etc. Everything you might want to know all in a book you can have right at your fingertips. I keep it on my coffee table for friends to browse through just because it gets them interested in an iris for their own gardens. Breathtaking!!!

5 comments about The Gardener's Iris Book.

1. With fabulous photography by Roger Foley et al, this is an indispensable reference on irises for newcomers to these flags or old-times iris lovers. All the essential care needed for a spectacular display of these moving flowers. The Gardener's Iris Book is a wonderful way to learn how to tend your new crop of these amazing & historic plants. This is a book I've often re-read, the information I keep gleaning comes just at the right time. END



2. My mother has found this book to be a very informative and helpful reference. When she started losing some of her plants to rot, the book explained what it was and how to treat it.



3. "The Gardener's Iris Book" describes itself as an introductory book for American gardeners. In my own experience, books about irises tend to fall into two categories: beautiful and fun to read, but not particularly useful or well-organized; and books that I can take out into the garden and actually use. This volume manages to straddle both categories, which is good because I like to look at beautiful pictures of irises, but I've also discovered that they are not particularly easy to grow. I've lost two complete plantings of Bearded Irises to borers, and even managed to kill off a bed of hardy Siberian irises.

   Why bother with a touchy plant that has such a short growing season? That's easy: because they're one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden when they do bloom.

   The author has a gift for clear, succinct phrasing, very well-suited for a 'how to' manual on growing irises. He also loves his subject--in the chapter on Louisiana Irises, he refers to himself as 'Johnny Iris Seed' because of his habit of planting his extra rhizomes in the mud at the margins of farm ponds, park pools, or even roadside ditches. "Most will establish themselves and give pleasure to passersby in years to come."

   After forty years of growing irises, he has learned that a good garden springs from a healthy, living soil. He suggests using pesticides and commercial fertilizers only as a last resort. For instance, in the section on Iris borers, he starts with the least toxic methods for ridding your garden of these pests: carefully clean up your garden debris in late fall and early spring to limit the number of borers that will hatch. Monitor the young foliage fans for notches, then pinch the fan below the notches to squash any burrower (a mano a mano approach not recommended for the squeamish).

   Irises can also be treated with beneficial nematodes. I tried this method one year with some success, although the neighbors probably wondered why I was running around with what looked like a horse hypodermic and sticking it into iris stems. According to this author, the nematodes can be sprayed on plants or used as a soil drench, so I can throw away my hypo.

   "The Gardener's Iris Book" is fun to read straight through to the appendices on Iris specialist nurseries (listed by state), and iris books and computer resources. However the book is divided into sections that treat irises with similar growing characteristics, e.g. those requiring substantial moisture or those that thrive in dry conditions. These useful subdivisions allow the reader-in-a-hurry to concentrate on the irises that thrive in an environment most closely resembling his or her own garden.




4. This book is so easy to read, most iris books I have come across goes way to deep into botany that they are a bore to read, not to mention confusing. The pictures are beautiful. This book is definately for anyone wanting to grow irises.



5. I bought this book since I'm just starting to plant different types of iris. The book provides a good overview and is an easy reference to understand. If I were a more experienced iris gardener I would probably be disappointed in the content covered.
   Overall, would recommend for the gardener with little or no experience in planting iris.

No comments about Tea Roses: Old Roses for Warm Gardens.

5 comments about The Color Encyclopedia of Daylilies.

1. Love it makes for great reading in our lovely New York winters. Very informative also.



2. This is a very good daylily book. Loads of beautiful pics and they are in order by color, so if you arent quite sure of some of your daylilies, as was my case, this is a great help.



3. I was very pleased with the book I received. It was good quality with no defects. The price was reasonable for the great quality product I received. I am happy with this purchase.



4. For serious Day Lily gardeners- this book is a must have for their garden book collections. My only wish now is that the authors and Timber Press will come out with a completely new and revised edition .



5. Ted and JP have produced a masterpiece. I can't wait for their next one.
   Glorious, glorious pictures of our favorite flower.